Summary:

This chapter focuses mainly on the character of Atticus, starting with the children complaining about how Atticus does not do anything. They say that Atticus is different then all the other fathers at school, as he is nearly 50. They also complain that he has a monotonous life and job, he does not drive a dump truck, he is not the prestigious sheriff, he just sits in his office all day. Jem and Scout believe that Atticus is really boring, because he just sits and reads. This causes them to go and ask people what Atticus can do. Miss Maudie and Calpurnia both reply that Atticus is a man of many talents, but this is not the kind of talent Scout and Jem are proud of. Then, one day while Atticus is work, a rabid dog, Tim Johnson approaches the house. Calpurnia immediately calls Atticus and tells him to call the sheriff. When Atticus arrives with Heck Tate, the sheriff, they see the mad dog and agree that they must shoot it. Heck Tate starts to aim his rifle but decides to give the gun to Atticus because he believes that he can not shoot as well as Atticus. Atticus concedes and aims for the dog and hits it. Jem and Scout are amazed that Atticus is such a talented shooter and realize how unappreciative that they were of Atticus, who is actually nicknamed, One-Shot Finch. When Scout exclaims that, "Ain't everybody's daddy the deadest shot in Maycomb County.", Jem replies that if he wanted the kids to know, he would have told them before. Miss Maudie infers that he put down his gun because, "He realized that God had given him an unfair advantage over most living things." This shows that Atticus is a very modest, humble man, although he is very talented.

Character Profiles:

Atticus-Is the father of Scout and Jem, who consider him old and feeble because he is fifty and ‘can’t do much’. During the chapter, they realize how he is actually very talented, and can shoot a rifle so accurately that he could shoot the rabid dog without his glasses. He used to be so good that his nickname used to be One-Shot Finch. This shows that Atticus does not like to show off about his talents, he is very humble.

Scout- Is the narrator of the story, and complains about how Atticus does nothing and has bad eyesight and all he does is sit and read. When she realizes that Atticus can shoot a rifle very well, she wants to tell all her classmates about it, showing that she feels very proud of her father.

Jem- Is the brother of Scout, who also complains that Atticus is old and feeble. When he sees that Scout wants to tell her classmates about One-Shot Finch, he tells her not to because Atticus probably did not want everyone to know if he did not tell them about it. Then he proclaims that this is because, “Atticus is a gentleman, just like me!” showing that Atticus is his role-model and that he wants to be just like Atticus.

Miss Maudie Atkinson- When the kids ask her about what Atticus can do, she tells them that Atticus has life in him because he is a good checker player, can play the Jew’s Harp and can make a will airtight.

Calpurnia- Like Miss Maudie, Calpurnia thinks that Atticus is a very skilled man and can do many things. When she sees the sick dog, she immediately takes the kids inside and starts warning everyone in the neighborhood, even though they will not really listen to her.

Tim Johnson-Is a liver color bird dog who is the mad dog (infected with rabies) in the chapter. He belongs to the Johnsons but is shot by Atticus because rabid animals are very contagious and can make others sick.

Heck Tate- Is the police officer who comes when the mad dog appears. He gives the gun to Atticus to shoot the dog because he believes that Atticus will be able to shoot the dog in one shot.

Setting:
Maycomb, Alabama, 1930’s

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Listen to a Jew's Harp:
















Sources:



Images from:
http://www.ctpost.com/mediaManager/?controllerName=image&action=get&id=224905&width=628&height=471
http://www.power.k12.mt.us/Standard1/process.htm
http://www.critterwalls.com/bluejay600.jpg
http://www.thelensflare.com/large/mockingbird_35802.jpg
http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml07/07045c.jpg
http://www.thelibertyvoice.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/RabidDog2-e1269095461957.png
http://svr225.stepx.com:3388/jew-s-harp/file/11950.jpg

Sound from:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/5c/Munniharppu_%C3%A4%C3%A4nin%C3%A4yte.ogg__





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